Council member suggests use of rainy-day fund in wake of destructive storm 

A vigorous response by city workers to damage caused by destructive winds on April 29 was lauded by Springfield City Council and staff at last night’s council meeting, but some council members indicated they thought the city should do even more. 

Interim City Manager Collin Quigley offered a report on the storm response. He said no injuries or fatalities were reported during the storm, but impacts to the city’s infrastructure, urban canopy and utility services were significant. 

“The prompt and coordinated response from city departments, City Utilities and Greene County helped mitigate further risk and restore services as quickly as possible,” Quigley said. “We will continue to focus on preparedness, infrastructure resilience and public communication, [which] will be vital to strengthening Springfield against future severe weather events.” 

Council unanimously passed an emergency bill to allow a waiver of fees for use of the Yardwaste Recycling Center for a period of 14 days, dating from its first opening after the storm on May 3. 

In the discussion of the bill, some council members opined that the city should do more. 

Councilmember Craig Hosmer said following the ice storm of 2007, the city helped residents by collecting yard waste from curbs in front of their houses. 

Quigley said that storm brought more significant damage citywide, and the city and county worked together to acquire a single contractor to hit the threshold needed for federal disaster funding. 

He said doing so required a disaster declaration by the president of the United States. He called the possibility of that happening for the April 29 storm “pretty remote,” though he said the county’s Office of Emergency Management is looking at possibilities. Meanwhile, he said, the city is working with volunteer agencies to provide help to people who need assistance. 

Hosmer said downed trees are a public safety issue. 

“I think it’s something we need to look – at least make an assessment – to see whether there are federal or state dollars available for some sort of more broad-based response,” he said. 

Councilmember Brandon Jenson praised the city for launching its response so quickly. 

“This is a pretty widespread disaster that has affected large swaths of Zone 1 … and also impacted Zone 3,” he said. 

While Jenson noted it was his hope that there would be a widespread neighbor-helping-neighbor effort, he said the volunteer response he observed “left something lacking for me.” 

He agreed with Hosmer that a more robust response is appropriate, and he added that the level of debris that was created is far beyond what individual homeowners will be able to handle. 

“I also think we’re in a time where we can’t necessarily rely on the federal government to step in and help us with these types of things anymore,” Jenson said. “I don’t think we should count on that assistance being there, but that doesn’t mean our citizens still don’t need our help.” 

Regardless of whether reimbursement can be expected, he said, the city has a rainy-day fund for a reason. He recommended city funds be used to provide staff overtime incentives and to contract with crews for services to help residents with the recovery. 

“Last Tuesday was certainly a rainy day in my books,” he said. “This is a citywide disaster, and it deserves a citywide response.” 

In his report on the storm, Quigley said the recovery process is ongoing, with crews clearing debris and restoring infrastructure while assessing long-term needs. 

Quigley outlined the following statistics related to the storm response: 

• There were 1,826 calls for service via 911.
• The Springfield Police Department responded to 70 storm-related traffic incidents, and the Springfield Fire Department logged 51 emergency calls in the first 12 hours.
• The city had 668 service requests the day of the storm, mainly for Public Works regarding downed trees in roadways.
• Public Works had 12 street operations crews and six arborist crews working around the clock to respond to and remove debris blocking roadways.
• An eight-person Public Works team constructed improvements at the city’s Yardwaste Recycling Center for an additional brush lot.

Quigley said when the Yardwaste Recycling Center opened on Saturday, May 3, nearly 2,000 customers brought brush to the center in one day. By comparison, he said, 250-275 customers bring yard waste in on a typical spring Saturday. 

He noted over 1,200 downed trees were reported across the city, including some 300 in city parks. Debris blocked 40-plus city streets and knocked out power to numerous traffic lights. Peak power outages affected more than 50,000 City Utilities customers. 

He noted significant damage was reported to hangars at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, with a large amount of debris to be removed. 

Hardinger tapped 
Councilmember Heather Hardinger was elected by a 5-3 vote to serve as council’s mayor pro tempore, the person who leads the council at meetings in the absence of the mayor and participates in some ceremonial functions for the city. 

Hardinger had a challenger for the role in Councilmember Monica Horton. Hardinger was nominated by Councilmember Derek Lee, while Horton’s name was put up by Jenson. 

Mayor Jeff Schrag explained that the first candidate to receive five votes would become the mayor pro tem, and Hardinger’s nomination, offered first, was voted upon first, resulting in the win with the support of members Lee, Abe McGull, Callie Carroll, Schrag and Hardinger herself. Voting no were Horton, Jenson and Bruce Adib-Yazdi. Hosmer did not register either a vote or an abstention. A vote was not held on Horton’s candidacy because Hardinger received the requisite five affirmative votes. 

In remarks prior to the vote, Hardinger said she had served in her first ceremonial event only the week before. 

“It gave me a deeper appreciation for the ways that we can represent and connect with our community beyond the dais,” she said. 

She pledged to approach the role with professionalism, collaboration and a commitment to supporting the mayor, council and city. 

Horton said before the vote that anyone on council would serve well in the office. 

“I would be honored to serve as mayor pro tem with the ability and availability to perform the duties of mayor in Mayor Schrag’s absence because of how hard I advocate for a fair and accurate image, and also for the vibrancy of northwest Springfield,” she said. “I would say I have what it takes to champion all of Springfield in the interest of public health, safety and welfare.” 

Horton said she had already told Hardinger that if Hardinger were selected, she would support her. 

After the vote, Hardinger was sworn in by City Clerk Anita Cotter. 

Springfield’s city code specifies that the mayor pro tem act as mayor if the elected mayor is absent or unable to act. It adds that if a vacancy should occur in the mayor’s role, the mayor pro tem assumes the office until the next election or until council calls a special election.